It looks like the GOP message of cutting back on spending in Washington is finally getting through to the Democrats. Well, some of the Democrats. Ok… one of the Democrats. But that’s a start!
Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) has offered up an amendment to slash spending on at least one of the myriads federal government entities.
The House on Friday is scheduled to consider legislation that would slash funding for a controversial ethics office set up by Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) several years ago.
The amendment, offered by Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.), presents an opportunity for members to express their displeasure with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have long grumbled about the office; however, most have been reticent about publicly airing their views, worried about the appearance of calling for the dismantling of an ethics office in Congress.
Astute readers with long memories will recall that then-Speaker Pelosi set this shop up as part of her stated desire to “drain the swamp” of what she viewed as primarily Republican corruption in the lower chamber. However, the number of members they snagged didn’t wind up being such a representative sample of GOP malfeasance.
Now, the more cynical and suspicious of you might be thinking, “Hey… wait a minute. Wasn’t Mel Watt under investigation by that office on ethics charges just last year?”
Honestly, now. I don’t know why you people have to be so petty. Congressman Watt was eventually cleared of charges, wasn’t he? So there you go. But in the end, none of it mattered since the proposal went down to defeat with more than 300 members voting against it. Rest assured, there will be no cutting of spending to federal agencies under the watchful eye of this batch!
I’d say this story is “developing” but, honestly, I don’t even have the heart for it today.
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